Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Sir Squeaky on April 26, 2007, 07:23:11 pm
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I had to ask because I've got a 400L tank and it's only lasting a few hours.
I'm getting £60-75 done max, and it's empty.
When I had the Escort the reel was above the pump, and I think I was getting less pressure, because I was getting more done then.
It's so annoying.
I could turn down the flow, but that upsets the pump.
I know it's first cleans, but 400L should be enough surely. ???
One headache after another... :(
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You should be able to get loads of work done with 400ltrs squeaky,you must be running between 21/2 and 3ltrs a minute a least to be using it that quickly.You should be able to manually adjust your pressure switch to get the pump humming sweetly at a lower flow rate.
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squeeks, 400ltr lasts (me on my own) about 5hrs, normally I'll go through somewhere close to 600ltrs a day.
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Put a by-pass in.
Peter
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Put a by-pass in.
Peter
How much and how easy?
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dont you put them ladders back on that van yet squeeks!!!
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;D
I won't!
Even if I was earning more money and had less outgoings... :-\
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Put a by-pass in.
Peter
How much and how easy?
Two T's and a valve in the middle. One T where the pipe comes out the pump, and one T where the pipe goes in the pump, and join them with a piece of pipe with the valve somewhere in the pipe. if you use garden hose for your inlet and outlet pipes then you should be able to get the fittings you need from B&Q or a garden centre.
Peter
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Put a by-pass in.
Peter
How much and how easy?
rog, on the diy site is a sticky post about it, its got a picture of a pump box with 1 fitted and a list to all the fittings you need and where from
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hi have you got the link to the diy site as i would be interested in having a look aswell
thanks
Paul
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Squeeks
400l should last best part of a day,
Are you using 100m microbore , if so is it 6mm or 8mm?
If its 8mm it will pump out a lot faster therefor a bypass or an electronic flow controller is needed.
Also I reckon its best you use too much water rather than too little, since you have just started wfp
Dave
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Dave, I'm not sure on the diameter, but I know it's the identical system to Ian's, and he uses far less water.
Guess I've got do something about this flow.
I cannot spend any more money.
Ian says his pump is fine on much lower flow though, so I'll have to try what Alex suggested and adjust the pump.
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Just a thought rog maybe you could swap pumps with Ian just for a moment or 2 to see if the pump really needs adjusting and to see if it does the same on his setup
Chris
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I use about 275/300l on a busy domestic day (no first cleans mind) and 300L will earn me generally £180/£200. 9am/5pm
On commercial or long days 7.00am/5pm I'll get through 400L and may just use up the 18L in my backpack too.
Very rarely I'll get through a bit more if I've commercial /first cleans /conservatories but plan by going back for a top up half way through the day.
I've got a varistream and tap at the end of my pole hose to save water.
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200/220 litres a day does me fine. That's 9 till 5 too. I don't know what your doing with it all.
All customers happy with no complaints.
Put a Varistream on the top of your shopping list. Dai
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you also say that you have the same setup as ian Q. is your pump really the same I have 2 100 psi surflow pumps 1 is a year older than the other and they are not exactly the same 1 is rated at 1.0gpm and the other rated at 1.4gpm
chris
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Squeaky. Its called Karma. You're paying for your sins of slagging off WFP for so long!!!!!
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Hi Squeaky,
Can you do something for me? Connect up your system plug in your 100 metres of 6mm microbore and plug in one of your poles. Now direct the water flow into a large measuring jug. Measure how much water you pump out in 1 minute.
Get back to me with the result.
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Squeaky. Its called Karma. You're paying for your sins of slagging off WFP for so long!!!!!
LOL ;D
Andy
Poole Dorset
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hi have you got the link to the diy site as i would be interested in having a look aswell
thanks
Paul
#
<------------- e.mail me for the link
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Hi Squeaky,
Can you do something for me? Connect up your system plug in your 100 metres of 6mm microbore and plug in one of your poles. Now direct the water flow into a large measuring jug. Measure how much water you pump out in 1 minute.
Get back to me with the result.
Great idea Alex.
I'll do it after work tomorrow. (Which will probably be about 1pm! ::))
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200/220 litres a day does me fine. That's 9 till 5 too. I don't know what your doing with it all.
All customers happy with no complaints.
Put a Varistream on the top of your shopping list. Dai
When you can afford one squeaky, it will be a good purchase for you.
They have saved me loads of water and also fuel, because i haven't had to go home to refill since using one.
More initial expense, but well worth going for in my opinion.
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On average i use around 160 litres a day, domestic only, Rog when your doing a first clean use the customers water and blast the windows and then wash after with your own, just get yourself a long hosepipe and its a doddle, even if they havent got a tap just ask there neighbour and when we,ve had to do this we nearly always pick up another job whilst we are there.
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Hi Squeaky,
Can you do something for me? Connect up your system plug in your 100 metres of 6mm microbore and plug in one of your poles. Now direct the water flow into a large measuring jug. Measure how much water you pump out in 1 minute.
Get back to me with the result.
Alex.
Done your test.
In one minute I used 3.2 litres.
Sounds a lot. :o
About 2 hours use and I'd be out of water.
It lasted better than that in the Escort, but the hose reel was above the pump, now it's the opposite.
I'm sure there's more pressure now.
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Rog, do what Alex advised in that other post, take the cover off the pump and adjust the screw so that your pump doesn't cut out so quickly.
Have he pump running with the inline valve set at a lower flowrate and when the pump is still working smoothly after you have adjusted it...you are done ;)
As Alex said though, make sure the pump stops completely after a few seconds when you turn the water off completely.
Ian
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Hi Squeaky,
Can you do something for me? Connect up your system plug in your 100 metres of 6mm microbore and plug in one of your poles. Now direct the water flow into a large measuring jug. Measure how much water you pump out in 1 minute.
Get back to me with the result.
Alex.
Done your test.
In one minute I used 3.2 litres.
Sounds a lot. :o
About 2 hours use and I'd be out of water.
It lasted better than that in the Escort, but the hose reel was above the pump, now it's the opposite.
I'm sure there's more pressure now.
So? Alex? ???
3.2L/minute?
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Hi Rog.
250ltrs is the most i use & thats on a long day, most days no more than 200ltrs.
Get yourself a varistream, it will save you loads of water.
Macc
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Yeah I know Macc, everyone's already said that, but Ian doesn't need one, so I shouldn't.
How much are they?
I'm absolutely skint anyway, so it's out of the question.
All I want is for Alex to comment on the flow rate he asked me to check. :-\
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Hi Squeaky,
Can you do something for me? Connect up your system plug in your 100 metres of 6mm microbore and plug in one of your poles. Now direct the water flow into a large measuring jug. Measure how much water you pump out in 1 minute.
Get back to me with the result.
Alex.
Done your test.
In one minute I used 3.2 litres.
Sounds a lot. :o
About 2 hours use and I'd be out of water.
It lasted better than that in the Escort, but the hose reel was above the pump, now it's the opposite.
I'm sure there's more pressure now.
So? Alex? ???
3.2L/minute?
Not Alex I know but what I have at the pole end of the hosereel is a small piece of half inch hose with an insert in it. Into this is slotted the 6mm microbore (you have to heat them in hot water to make them more pliable before insertion). Onto this piece of half inch hose is fitted a hoselock type connector with a flow control valve. This allows you to reduce or even stop the flow. Also best to carry some spare connectors as they can take a battering. Now with some pumps, I understand that this method may not be a good idea. I have a 100 PSI flojet pump with a means of returning the water to the tank (don't ask about this bit as I didn't set it up myself). From what I've read on here, it is possible to mess up some types of pump but others are OK with it. Also, I think Alex normally recommends some kind of flow control actually on the pole hose itself so maybe I am steering you in the wromng direction. Anyway, depending on your type of setup, it could give you another (possibly much cheaper) option.
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Yeah I know Macc, everyone's already said that, but Ian doesn't need one, so I shouldn't.
How much are they?
I'm absolutely skint anyway, so it's out of the question.
All I want is for Alex to comment on the flow rate he asked me to check. :-\
Well Alex doesn't seem to be abourt but 1 - 1.5 litres a minute is a decent enough flow rate for WFP - perhaps a bit more on very dirty first cleans. It sounds like some on here manage with less. For me, 400 litres a day would leave me struggling some days. I could probably manage if I could guarantee no first cleans but there seem to be more of them this time of year.
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I have varistream/sureflow 60psi on 100m 8mm micro.
Use approx 1L a minute, like a good bead on rinse so all dirt is washed down window.
I will increase as mentioned for first cleans, very dirty monthly cleans ie next to busy roads etc.
I adjusted varistream on flow control dial inside unit no probs. Varistream will stop when I disconnect pole hose or kink it as I do not like control valve on pole hose, catches on everything when being pulled around. Varistream will stop and start at intervals when pole disconnected as it is testing/feeling if change in hose pressure, only for a split second though, this is normal.
Would recomend E Z connecters from Gardiners, BRILLIANT and good value.
Regards Steve :)
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Rog doesn't need to spend any money whatsoever, Alex has already told him how to adjust the flojet pump in another thread!
And then Rog will (or should be) the same as me.
Alex doesn't need to reply to tell you that your flowrate at 3.2l per min is too high :o
Stop dithering about and adjust your pump and you'll be fine!
Rocket science it isn't!!
Ian
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Hi Roger,
I have been a little busy with the website and re-hosting (boring).
3.2 litres is too much. Try adjusting the screw on the pump and see if this improves the situation. If this doesn't make any difference then there are one or two other things we can do. Drop me an email with your number and I will chat them through with you.
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Alex.
I've adjusted the screw now.
It stays on for 8-10 seconds before cutting out now, rather than every 3 seconds.
So it's going the right direction, but it's now as tight as it will go without forcing it.
Seems I'm at maximum adjustment. :-\
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email me your phone number and I will give you a ring.
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email me your phone number and I will give you a ring.
Done. ;)
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Hi Rog.
Today i used about 230ltrs.
I did 14 4 bed houses, none had a con on & i did a outside con including the roof which is glass.
Macc
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Hi Macc.
I used 50 litres today.
I did 2 1/2 houses with it and squeegeed the rest!
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Rog, you should get a varistream :P :P :P
i havent got 1, and dont need 1, but it seems every1 has 1, so you really do need 1, go on, you know it makes sense :P :P
Oh another thing, have you thought of a varistream, i hear they are very good , oh hang on, thats been said B4 ;D ;D
Sorry, but i found it funny
seriously, fit a by-pass valve, a few quid on some bits and you will be sorted, well intill you get a varistream ;)
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Hi Macc.
I used 50 litres today.
I did 2 1/2 houses with it and squeegeed the rest!
20 litres per house sounds pretty much OK - perhaps even a bit low as they are first cleans.
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I was guessing. It may have been 100. :-\ ;D
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I was guessing. It may have been 100. :-\ ;D
Ok. You better get a varistream then ;D
P.S. I haven't got one either.